Pages

Thursday, September 29, 2011

It’s Thursday so it is time for the new Meljen’s Designs digi release and the new challenge. Before we get to the details on all the new stuff, I thought I would share this card that I made for the daughter of a friend of the family that broke her arm. Although I am not happy she broke her arm, I am happy that I finally get to use this cute digi.

The new challenge this week is “Shapes - use a Square AND a Circle”. Stop by the Meljen’s Designs blog to see the challenge rules, link up your project and see the DT inspiration projects.

I most likely will not be around much over the next week. I am having my foot surgery later today and I am not too sure of how my short term recovery period will be. I have a few posts scheduled in advance to keep you entertained.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

“Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone!” is the new challenge on the Sentimental Sundays blog. We would love to see you try something different than your usual style or type of projects. Don’t forget to include a sentiment. Please tell us how you stepped out of your comfort zone in your blog post.

For my project, I was inspired by a card created by my talented friend Maria of Crafty Cre8tions. You can see her card HERE. Look, I only have 1 layer on top of the base and the card is pretty clean and simple. No buttons, digis, Copics or stitching either. This card took me only about 15 minutes compared to my usual couple of hours per card. I could get used to this!

This pretty butterfly is from some wonderful blog candy that I won from Tereza Crump. You can see her blog HERE and her Etsy store HERE. I colored it using Tsukineko’s Fireworks mist and love the way it looks.

Today we attended the annual fund raiser for my daughter’s school. The PTO did a really great job. There was a silent auction with gift baskets put together by each class and donations from families and local businesses. They also had a mini carnival with tons of games and prizes for the kids, a really good face painter, those big, blow up jumpy houses and slides, a cake walk, snacks, drinks and sandwiches, a bake sale and a dunk tank where all the teachers and the school administrator took a turn on the hot (or should I say “wet”) seat. It was a good time!

I hope you will join the Sentimental Sundays team in our “Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone” challenge. Stop by the Sentimental Sundays blog to see how the rest of the DT is stepping outside their comfort zones.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

I love little monster that I used on my card for the new Meljen’s Designs sketch challenge. I used one of the new images called Fuzzer the Monster. I kept trying to color him to look fuzzy and just wasn’t getting the look I wanted. I finally had my “Aha!” moment and pulled out the Fun Flock. Still not satisfied, I colored some spare “spots” and embossed them to get the bumpy texture. Now I love how he turned out.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Thank you to every one that entered into my blog candy drawing. I really enjoyed reading your comments about what you love best about Halloween. Thank you too for all the well wishes for my upcoming foot surgery.

** This post will stay on top until 9-20-2011. Please scroll down to see new posts. **

I wasn’t planning on offering blog candy this month, BUT I messed up and ordered 2 Apothecary Emporium paper pads. With Halloween coming up soon, I thought I would offer it up as blog candy now so that the winner will have time to use it to make some creepy, fun projects.

The blog candy consists of these two Halloween related items, a Echo Park Apothecary Emporium 6x6 paper pad and a brand new Sleepy Hollow DVD. (You can click on the images for more information.)

The blog candy will end on September 20th and I will use Random.org to pick the winner. I am having foot surgery at the end of September and I won’t be able to drive for 4 weeks so I want to be able to get this to the post office before then.

So what do you have to do to get a chance to win my Halloween candy?

Be a follower of my blog

Enter your info in the Linky tool below

Leave a comment telling me what you love best about Halloween, what was your favorite costume, or just saying “Hi”.

A few weeks ago, Mabelle let the DT pick out a few digis from her store. I swear I wanted every digi there but I knew I had to have this squirrel. There is just something about this image that makes me smile. I wish the squirrels around my house were this cute instead of chewing holes in my bird feeders.

Mabelle just shared with us a peek of the Christmas digis that she will be putting on the store on October 18th. They are soooooo cute! Once again, I don’t know how to pick…. Make sure you stop back here and the Whimsy and Stars Studio blog to check them out on October 18th!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

The new Sentimental Sundays challenge is MONOCHROME (with a sentiment)! This one was a bit of a challenge for me. I generally try to avoid monochrome projects because they intimidate me. But I gave this one a try and am pretty happy with the results.

I’m going to keep this post short since I am late getting it up. Drop by the Sentimental Sundays blog to see the other fabulous MONOCHROME (with a sentiment) creations from the rest of the DT and download your free sentiment set from Ann Vento of Raindrop Echo Designs. I can’t wait to see your MONOCHROME project.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

I had a hard time picking a song this week. I think it because I just have too much going on right now and haven’t really been paying attention when I’ve been playing music. In the end, I decided to post a cover of Nick Drake’s “Cello Song”. I have always loved this song and find it relaxing.

If you would like to play along, link up your blog post with your musical pick on Marcea’s blog.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Halloween is creeping closer! Are you getting ready? My daughter is already planning her costume. Right now, she is asking to be Medusa. I need to try to figure out how to make Medusa-like snake hair. (If you have any ideas, let me know! I’m sure I’ll be combing the internet in the next few weeks.)

Keeping in the Halloween spirit, I made a card using the new Pumpkin Pile image to make a card for the new Meljen’s Designs challenge, PAPER PIERCING. (not paper piecing). I know it doesn’t show up very well in the photo, but I pierced along the edges of both pieces of DP.

Stop by the Meljen’s Designs blog to see the creations from the rest of the DT and join in our PAPER PIERCING challenge.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

I can’t remember if I have mentioned it before, but autumn is my favorite time of the year. The fresh, crisp breeze, the fall colors, the sky which is a color of blue you don’t see any other time of the year, the pumpkins and apples, hay rides, bonfires… I could go on and on. While I was feeling inspired by the season, I decided to make a card using Acorns Pumpkin Teddy. Doesn’t he just epitomize the spirit of the season?

After coloring Teddy, I decided I didn’t like any of the papers I had on had so I ran to my LSS to pick up some new papers. I added some cork and dyed seam binding that I had on hand. The border was die cut from a Starbucks coffee sleeve and colored using Maya mist. I know it is hard to tell in the picture but it is brown with a metallic gold gleam.

Did you see Mabelle’s exciting announcement last week? She is going to start selling some of her images as rubber stamps through her Etsy store. I know some of you will really love this! You can see the announcement on the Whimsy and Stars Studio blog.

Thank you for stopping by! Please stop by the Whimsy and Stars Studio blog and check out some of the lovely creations from the rest of the DT.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

I wanted to take a moment on the anniversary of that tragic day in September 2001 to reflect. Looking at the videos from that day and the aftermath still brings tears to my eyes.

I was 7 months pregnant and when I walked into my office in Pewaukee, no one was at their desks. Some one told me every one was in the conference room because a plane flew into the World Trade Towers and they were watching the news on the TV back there. I put my purse and stuff down and walked into the conference room just in time to see the 2nd plane hit. I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing.

My thoughts and prayers go out for all the family members that lost someone that day and for the survivors of that horrible attack.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

It’s Sunday so it is time for a new Sentimental Sundays challenge. This week our challenge is “Autumn”. Don’t forget to include a sentiment!

For my card I inked up a House Mouse stamp that I had stashed away. I get so used to using digital images that I sometimes forget that I have some rubber laying around. I love to go apple picking with my family in the fall. We have fun trying all different varieties of apples, posing for cheesy photos, and just goofing around. Of course we also love the fresh donuts and apple cider shakes they sell there too. This little guy reminds me of all the fun that we will have in the not to distant future when we head to the apple orchard.

I planned on chatting on a while more but things got a bit hectic with a sick dog, an emergency trip to the vet, and mopping the floor numerous times. I’ll save you the details and postpone my chit chat for a better day.

I hope you will join the Sentimental Sundays team and link up your “Autumn” themed project (with a sentiment). Be sure to stop by the Sentimental Sundays blog to see the projects created by my talented teamies.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Plunge right through that line! Run the ball clear down the field, A touchdown sure this time. (U rah rah) On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Fight on for her fame Fight! Fellows! - fight, fight, fight! We'll win this game.

(Click here if you would like to hear “On Wisconsin!”, the Wisconsin Badger’s fight song)

The new Meljen’s Designs challenge is “All Things Sporty”. Of course I couldn’t resist coloring up this teddy to be a Badgers fan.

Sports Fan Teddy can be colored to be a fan of your favorite team for any sport and works great with the “We’re #1” freebie sentiment available on the Meljen’s Designs blog. Sports Fan Teddy and Little Football Boy are both new to the Meljen’s Designs store today.

Don’t forget to stop by the Meljen’s Designs blog to see if you were one of the lucky winners from the blog hop last week.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

A couple of weeks ago when I was running errands and picking up things my daughter needed for school, I stopped in the Yankee Candle store. Since they were having a fabulous sale on their candles, I picked up a few to alter and donate to my daughter’s school for their fall auction and fundraiser.

This is the first candle I have completed. It is a yummy smelling Frosted Pumpkin one. I added some ribbon to the top of the candle and added a tag using the new Pumpkin Kitty image from Whimsy and Stars Studios.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

The new Sentimental Sundays challenge is “Thinking of You” or “Sympathy” with a sentiment. A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with breast cancer so I made this card to let her know that she is in my thoughts.

I have a new song to share this week. I just found this artist after I signed up on Spotify and really enjoyed listening to her album. If you would like to play along, link up your blog post on Marcea’s blog.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

There are exciting things going on at Meljen’s Designs! First, Melissa is opening a brand new store for all the Meljen’s Designs digital and precolored images. You can check the new store out HERE and save 50% on your purchase during the duration of the hop.

Since this is a celebration, we have PRIZES! Be sure to visit each stop on the hop, including the final stop, the Meljen’s Design blog. The GRAND PRIZE winner will be chosen from the comments left at the final stop and will get to choose three images of their choice from the new shop! 3 additional winners will get to pick one digital image from the Artsy images being released today. All winners will be announce on September 8th on the Meljen’s Designs blog.

For my project, I used an older image that I just love but hadn’t yet worked with. Isn’t this gnome sweet? I just want to pinch is cheek. I paper pieced his hat and added a felt flower. I took some inspiration from an old WOJ sketch.

To go along with the new images, we also have a new challenge. The challenge for this week is “No Designer paper”, use just cardstock. You can link up your creation on the Meljen’s Designs blog.

That is all the new and exciting news so let me tell you what is going to remain the same.

You will still be able to get all the Meljen’s Designs RUBBER STAMPS at Whimsy Stamps. (HERE)

I am excited to join the Whimsy and Stars Studio design team. Today we are introducing the Fall & Winter Design Team and giving you a peek at the new Fall digi images that will be available in the store on September 6th.

I have really fallen in love if Mabelle’s images. If you aren’t familiar with Whimsy & Stars Studio, you can check out all the adorable images in the Etsy store HERE. You might also want to sign up to follow the Whimsy and Stars Studio blog and join the Facebook group.

I had a hard time picking which image to start with because they were all so cute. I finally decided to use Halloween Girl first. Isn’t she sweet?

Did you notice that I am following through with my resolution to color more images of people? Have you noticed they are all blonde? I think I gravitate towards giving them all blonde hair because my daughter and I are both blondes. My DH used to be blonde but his hair has darkened to brown through the years. My next resolution is to try different hair colors. Thank goodness there are a lot of great tutorials out there!

Translate this page?

Splitcoast Stampers Guest Tutorial Author

I am a 40-something year old working mom. I live in Wisconsin with my husband, daughter, 2 dogs, and a parrot. During the day I work with numbers and spread sheets so in the evenings I enjoy a chance to play with paper and be creative. I am hopelessly addicted to designer papers, Copic markers, buttons and baker's twine. I love to use these items along lots of layers and stitching when creating my projects. You might know me as elizgmom on Splitcoast and other networks. Besides paper crafts, I love reading, listening to music, and having fun with my family. Thank you for stopping by!

All content and designs are by Cheryl Gorka unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to use my projects and designs for inspiration. All designs are for personal use only.Disclaimer: Some of the products used on my blog may have been provided by the vendor mentioned in the posts.